There are three main categories of approvals that can be granted:
Water supply work approvals
- water supply work (eg to install and operate a pump, dam or bore)
- drainage work
- flood work.
Water use approvals
- to use water for a particular purpose, such as irrigation.
Activity approvals
- controlled activity approvals
- aquifer interference approvals.
Under the Water Management Act 2000, water access licences entitle a licence holder to a share of the water in a water source that can be sustainably extracted. These licences are held and traded independently from land and are issued separately to approvals.
Register of Water Approvals
Approvals for water management works and use are listed on an on-line public Register of Water Approvals which provides information on the type and status of each approval and its conditions as follows:
- the approval ID number
- the kind of approval
- the date granted and expiry date
- the description of the authorised activity
- the water source
- the location of the work, use or activity
- the conditions of the approval.
The Register of Water Approvals also provides a record of applications for approvals. Details include:
- the application ID number
- the date the application was received by the Department
- the water source to which it relates
- the category of approval the applicant is seeking and type of work
- the status of the application.
You can search the Register of Water Approvals online or at one of our offices. There is no charge to search for information on this register.
The information is provided consistent with the requirements of section 57 of the Privacy and Personal Information Act 1998.